starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

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p1cass0p0w3r
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starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by p1cass0p0w3r »

so all was fine goes to start car get click click click dash lights go out when returning key to 2 lights still out....
battery good
tried to jump start off another car still doesnt spin
tried bsi reset still wont spin
any help/ideas much appreciated
tried to bump start but key at start dash goes off
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by Peter.N. »

If you are sure that the battery is good under load it sounds as though have a defective starter or wiring. Connect a voltmeter between the large terminal from the battery lead on the motor and earth then check the voltage with the starter engaged, if its less than about 8 volts you probably have a poor connection in the circuit, could be the battery connections or the earth lead connection to the body and engine. If you still have around 12v on the starter its likely faulty.

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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by GiveMeABreak »

See my recent post here:
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by p1cass0p0w3r »

UPDATE walked to work
walked home .....
walked to car with tool bag length of cable torch multi blah blah
car started normally 1st go ??? so i drove home stopped/started a few times on drive fine
so good for now imo ruled out fuses and relays as it works now also battery is good alt charges fine
if it happens again will check wiring and earth
thanks to you guys
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by Dormouse »

Hi. Go in and check the battery earth clamp connection and make sure it is clean and properly tightened. I know from previous experience that earth clamps are often not fully tight.
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by p1cass0p0w3r »

battery clamps are spring lever type under passenger seat both terminals good tight clean i should prob trace earth under car cheers
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by Dormouse »

Head for voltage drop tests first as suggested. You need to test starter motor first then the harness connections.
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by p1cass0p0w3r »

i am getting voltage at starter but i have just swapped out the starter and have the same symptom/problem of no dash lights when trying to start no noise in engine bay just clicking from fusebox area side of steering wheel
the earth is rusty as sin so would a bad earth give above symptoms with occasional fine starting ?
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by wheeler »

p1cass0p0w3r wrote: 13 Jun 2021, 19:59 i am getting voltage at starter but i have just swapped out the starter and have the same symptom/problem of no dash lights when trying to start no noise in engine bay just clicking from fusebox area side of steering wheel
the earth is rusty as sin so would a bad earth give above symptoms with occasional fine starting ?
Yes it certainly could.
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by p1cass0p0w3r »

right i have put other starter back on checked gearbox to chassis earth and now battery on charge (although been reading 13v on multimeter)
so it seems like something eating the amps
it would start with a jump off my leisure battery (4 or 5 times then charge) but not another car ?
bit of a puzzle
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by p1cass0p0w3r »

SOLVED it was the starter.... the new one didnt work because i hadnt charged the battery after fitting it
and i think the old one had drained the amps due to partial seizing
THANKS FOR THE HELP GUYS
p1cass0p0w3r
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by p1cass0p0w3r »

NO Spoke too soon 2 hrs after fitting other starter same symptoms ....flat battery (which is 5 months old ) no start
so what are the most common power drain problems ??
also would a faulty ignition cause battery drain ?? ifso is there any iggy checks
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by Peter.N. »

If it drained the battery that quickly I would suspect the alternator, that amount of power would generate a considerable amount of heat so it has to be something pretty hefty to absorb it or you would see smoke. Could also possibly be the glow plug relay sticking closed.

If you have a multimeter connect it in series with the alternator lead, disconnect it and connect the two ends to the meter, you need it set to the 'Amps' range, it should be passing only a very small current, a few milliamps or nothing at all.

To check if its the glow plug relay, connect the meter set to 'volts' from any glow plug connection to earth, if there is still about 12 volts there after the engine is turned off that will be the trouble.

Peter
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Re: starting problems 2.0l hdi xpic

Post by p1cass0p0w3r »

well i was thinking relay problem then car wouldnt start so i wiggled the battery post and heard 1 loud click tried car started
i think the click came from a black box fed from same cable as starter when i opened it there was 2 relays and 2 40a maxi inside plus 1 empty relay space and 3 empty maxi slots
so how can i find out what these are/do and why some are empty if 1 is glow plug relay as peter says that may solve problem
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